"The Tar Monster", the fifth episode of Season 3, was not a favourite 'The Scooby Doo Show' episode of mine as a child. That is not meant in a bad way, just that other episodes have always stood out to me more. Actually did like it when first getting into the iconic Scooby Doo franchise (have been a fan of the franchise since 7 or so years old), especially for the tar monster itself and the setting. While feeling that the mystery didn't properly stand out and didn't have much new.
It's still not one of my favourite episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show'. A lot is done right but it did feel like there was something missing somewhat. Don't get me wrong though, to me now "The Tar Monster" is a pretty good episode with more than enough to remind me as to why the Scooby Doo franchise appeals to me so much. It is one of those episodes even that has grown on me. As far as the show's Season 3 goes, it is neither among the best or worst, but somewhere around high middle.
Am going to start with "The Tar Monster's" good things. The animation quality in my view came on hugely in Season 3, helped by that the locations became more exotic and varied, although the writing and storylines were very variable. The animation is well done here in "The Tar Monster". The colours are vibrant and atmospheric and the attention to background detail is more meticulous here, really loved the look of the ancient city which was grand but not one of those going to at night places. The music has some endearingly familiar cues while having more variety. My love for the theme song will never die.
Furthermore, the writing still intrigues and entertains. It is not a Scooby Doo episode without at least one classic Shaggy and Scooby moment, and "The Tar Monster" provides that towards the end with the photography posing sequence. The Tar Monster itself is a very original and creepy creation and definitely stands out of all the show's monsters for especially the way it looks. That and their tent scene are great fun. The story engages enough and has a few clever if not innovative clues. The epilogue is charming and amusing. The voice acting is good.
Despite being engaged on the whole and the episode didn't drag to me, the mystery is a bit on the thin side and with a fair share of seen it all before ideas there is a predictability to it. The final solution is not quite a case of it "it could only have been one person", but the culprit was suspectable early on and it was on the derivative side in the culprit's true identity, the motive and the whole premise.
Maybe it was trying to be too careful not to offend and stereotype, but maybe the episode could have had more Turkish culture to give more of a sense of time and place. Nice cultural reference though to Byzantium.
Overall, pretty good episode that doesn't do anything massively wrong but there is something missing at the same time. 7/10.
It's still not one of my favourite episodes of 'The Scooby Doo Show'. A lot is done right but it did feel like there was something missing somewhat. Don't get me wrong though, to me now "The Tar Monster" is a pretty good episode with more than enough to remind me as to why the Scooby Doo franchise appeals to me so much. It is one of those episodes even that has grown on me. As far as the show's Season 3 goes, it is neither among the best or worst, but somewhere around high middle.
Am going to start with "The Tar Monster's" good things. The animation quality in my view came on hugely in Season 3, helped by that the locations became more exotic and varied, although the writing and storylines were very variable. The animation is well done here in "The Tar Monster". The colours are vibrant and atmospheric and the attention to background detail is more meticulous here, really loved the look of the ancient city which was grand but not one of those going to at night places. The music has some endearingly familiar cues while having more variety. My love for the theme song will never die.
Furthermore, the writing still intrigues and entertains. It is not a Scooby Doo episode without at least one classic Shaggy and Scooby moment, and "The Tar Monster" provides that towards the end with the photography posing sequence. The Tar Monster itself is a very original and creepy creation and definitely stands out of all the show's monsters for especially the way it looks. That and their tent scene are great fun. The story engages enough and has a few clever if not innovative clues. The epilogue is charming and amusing. The voice acting is good.
Despite being engaged on the whole and the episode didn't drag to me, the mystery is a bit on the thin side and with a fair share of seen it all before ideas there is a predictability to it. The final solution is not quite a case of it "it could only have been one person", but the culprit was suspectable early on and it was on the derivative side in the culprit's true identity, the motive and the whole premise.
Maybe it was trying to be too careful not to offend and stereotype, but maybe the episode could have had more Turkish culture to give more of a sense of time and place. Nice cultural reference though to Byzantium.
Overall, pretty good episode that doesn't do anything massively wrong but there is something missing at the same time. 7/10.
